Monday, June 10, 2013

We had such a busy weekend! We hosted a couple teenagers for a youth activity, so Z and I probably spent five hours (a very minimal, conservative, low-end estimate) in the car dropping off and picking up the kids over the last few days. The activity ran from Friday night to Sunday afternoon, and our job was to drive them back and forth and let them sleep on our couches for a couple nights. It was a good experience, but a taxing one at times. On Saturday we got to help with a service project for church: doing a total home makeover for a single mother of five small children. We were there for 6 of the 8.5 hours and helped pick up trash, trim plants, and paint. It was such an impressive project; I didn't see the original condition of the house, but about 70 volunteers repainted the entire exterior (missing just the cupola), painted the living room and all the interior doors, removed a broken AC unit, scrubbed away at the walls inside, picked up years-old construction litter, tore out dead and overgrown bushes and trees, planted flowers out front, and probably did even more that I wasn't aware of. My muscles are still complaining, but it was great fun to work with so many neighbors.

Ways I've made the world a better place:

- Making a difference at the service project.

- Hopefully offering a friend some solid relationship advice.

- Soliciting some advice from others for my sister as she prepares to serve as a missionary.

Blessings I've received:

- I functioned mostly-ok at work even though I hadn't been that sleepy in months.

- I get to keep my student job for a couple months after graduation (new policy change), so I'll have a source of income while job-searching and something to do so that I'm not bored. And as I've stressed less about my current job, I've enjoyed it a lot more.

- I've probably used this one already, but I still have an awesome husband who loves me, makes me smile, motivates and encourages me to do better, and so many other wonderful things.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Life's been a little busy, and I missed a day or two. I'd also like to record some blessings/miracles that I see in my life, because that's also a source of gratitude and happiness.

So, in the last couple days . . .

I served by
- Promptly running an errand for my sister
- Making and bringing a nice dinner to campus for my husband and I for a date
- Not griping about my husband needing my laptop while his is in for repairs

I've been blessed with
- Things running smoothly so far for our house guests this weekend
- A wonderful husband/best friend
- Family who cares

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Last year or so ago, I did a 30 Days of Thanksgiving gratitude challenge. I don't have a certain number of days I'll be doing this, but I'd like to try another challenge: recognizing the good that I contribute to the world.

Life gets heavy sometimes, and it's hard to focus on the good things. I think that it could be a good exercise to improve self-esteem, so I'm going to try it.

Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed.

Has anyone's burden been lighter today because I was willing to share?

Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?

When they needed my help was I there?

There are chances for work all around just now,

Opportunities right in our way.

Do not let them pass by, saying, "Sometime I'll try,"

But go and do something today.

'Tis noble of man to work and to give; love's labor has merit alone.

Only he who does something helps others to live.

To God each good work will be known.

--Have I Done Any Good, hymn

Some good things I've contributed to the world in the last 24 hours:

- I've been a good listener for a couple of my friends (which blessed me in return).

- I sent a friend all the pictures I took of her and her husband at their wedding.

Monday, June 3, 2013

I'm really grateful that Z knows how to uplift me when I have hard days. He holds me, listens to me, and finds things for us to laugh about. Unfortunately, he hurts whenever I'm in pain, and I don't know how to make that go away. I'm sorry that he shares in my suffering, but I will be eternally grateful for his sacrifice that brings us closer and lifts me up.

I've felt emotionally damaged ever since my study abroad, and maybe before then. My spirituality, social-ness, and self-worth have all taken huge hits. I want to get back though. I wrote this blog to help other people learn how to be happy in their everyday circumstances, so maybe I can read my past posts and learn from my old self. I can at least give it a shot. Maybe it can give me hope.